This trip sort of fell in our laps. Last year as we were trying to figure out where to go, we posted our house on www.sabbaticalhomes.com which is a small home exchange website for academia folks. Nothing came of it and we ended up renting the house in Portugal.
But, out of the blue, in early March we received an inquiry from a professor in Oxford, England interested in working out a trade. After a series of emails we decided it was meant to be...not knowing if anybody would ever choose our house again plus Jim has been wanting to go to Ireland to see where his mom grew up, so we figured we could combine the trip. We have had several skype/video calls with the people (she is a sociology professor and Brunel University in London, and he is a science professor with Open University; they have a 10 year old son). They seem like lovely people...weird that we won't meet them in person, or they us.
Below you can see their front door welcoming us! Anyway, it is a TON of work getting ready to leave on a trip while getting your house ready for mystery visitors. Lots of cleaning, gathering together maps and area information for them, as well as writing up instructions on how to operate our appliances and the ridiculous number of remotes it takes to operate a television.
So we fly out of SF tomorrow 7/24 (SF) and arrive in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday, 7/25. We will spend 5 nights there including a day trip to Longford where Jim's mom was born and raised. With the help of Jim's cousin we have located some cousins in the area and will try to meet them. On 7/30 we will arrive at our "new home" in Oxford and will be there until the 13th of August.
Check in every couple of days to hear/see what we are up to!
Jim and Lisa
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Bon voyage, Lisa and Jim! Sorry but I was unable to open the photo. Could be that I'm just technologically-challenged. Have a wonderful time! Love, Roberta and Allan
ReplyDeleteI don't think the pic launched into cyberspace. But I join the "wonderful time" wish!
ReplyDeleteNo wonder Jim was named for the famed author...they share the ability to write! Enjoyed Jim's thoughts. We visited Dublin on our European cruise a few years back and I am remembering that indeed it was a multi-cultural city. Have fun on your journey!
ReplyDeleteR :-)
Yeah, I pulled that photo off the sabbatical homes website and it is probably protected. It seems that photos in the other posts are doing fine.
ReplyDeleteNice work kids. You guys are doing it right! Looks like you guys are covering some ground. Weird how when your there it can sometimes feel a bit surreal and expectations can be met or shattered. Then after all the long rides in trains/planes/cab's and busses you will remember small amazing moments that you will talk about forever. Anyways, I was dissapointed that now I have to house your child in my SF apartment since you are gone. Next time you guys must come out, (this time I will know my way around.)
ReplyDeletehey, were you able to lay any ground work for Casey
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